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What nutrient deficiency is this?

20 years ago

My young citrus trees seem to have a micronutrient defeciency. I thought It was Iron and treated the soil with Iron Sulfate a week ago, along with some blood meal. I gave a bit more Iron then the label suggested... I now am inclined to think it is Zinc or Magnesium or Manganese. I guess there is a difference from the latter two? What does it look like to you? Seems to affect mostly the last flush of leaves which are mature now. But all are probably somewhat affected. Blotchy interveinal yellowing, apparently some stunting and narrowing as well. One plum seems affected also.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:606041}}

Comments (5)

  • 20 years ago

    If the leaves are normal size, it's Manganese. If dwarfed, it is Zinc. Looks more like Mn to me.

    Here's a quick guide to deficiencies:

    N -- general, uniform yellowing or fading of oldest leaves first. No pattern to it.

    P -- never (?) seen in citrus, but on other plants, purplish or reddish pigment forms in the oldest leaves first. The deficiency does certainly occur in citrus; they just don't show good symptoms.

    K -- Seldom seen in citrus. Oldest leaves die back, starting at the tip and along the distal margins. Looks rather like salt burn, but is uniquely on the oldest foliage.

    S -- much like N, general yellowing, but always starts with the newest foliage first.

    Ca -- No good leaf symptoms in citrus

    Mg -- Always on the oldest leaves first. Bottom center of the leaf is green, and the end and sides are yellow or orange, making an inverted "v" or "Christmas tree" shape to the green part, as it zigzags with the veins.

    Fe -- Newest leaves first. Yellowing of the leaf, but the veins remain green. No green borders around the veins; only the veins themselves remain green.

    Mn -- like Iron, newest leaves first. Yellowed leaf, green veins, WITH green borders beside the veins, so the green strip is broader than that of Fe. Leaves grow to be normal size.

    Zn -- like Manganese in all ways (yellow leaf, green veins with green borders, always newest leaves), but the leaf is dwarfed.

    Cu -- big, wrinkly, deep blue-green leaves which look like they are made of cheap plastic. Stems bend down strangely, and develop blisters which eventually burst, bleeding gummy sap.

    B -- no leaf symptoms, but the albedo (white part of the fruit peel) develops brown or grey, dying spots.

    Mo -- Leaves develop bright yellow, circular spots about 1/8-1/4" across. Rare.

  • 20 years ago

    And if it's iron, the better remedy for citrus in your area is a chelated iron.

    And in SoCal, iron and manganese deficiencies are often a combination in citrus.

  • 20 years ago

    Thanks for posting that Malcolm. It's a great reference.
    Karyn

  • 20 years ago

    I went ahead and foliar sprayed with a mixture that had zinc, iron, some N, Manganese, Magneseum, boron and copper. Heres a pic of some stunted leaves, Is this rosetting? The trees are just starting a new flush of growth, so I will spray again when the new leaves are bigger, maybe 3 weeks. I hope the old leaves werent to old to absorb the foliar feed.
    Most of these trees are next to So Cal Black Walnuts, but some are 50-100' away. I am a little concerned about Juglone, But there are tomatoes right here doing fine, and I heard they dont like walnuts... Only plants so far that seemed much better away from the walnuts has been Blueberries, and Asparagus.
    Also I have neutral PH as far as home tests say-6.5. I am in clayey sand riverbottom soil. Thank you for your help!

    Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:606042}}

  • 20 years ago

    B, even though it wasn't an iron definciency, using the iron will not harm your plant..In fact, of what I read, iron should be applied 3 times a year for prevention.
    What kind of spray did you find that contained all those minerals? Toni

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